Self-levelin wet/dry tube feeder

ABSTRACT

A wet/dry feeding device for the watering of live stock, primarily smaller animals such as baby pigs comprising; vacuum valve with diaphragm, water holding reservoirs, water leveling tube, and double walled feeding tube. The water level is automatically maintained within the holding pans by an adjustable feeding tube which is placed into the water at a perpendicular angle to the water surface. At the top of the feeding tube a vacuum valve with diaphragm is located to allow water into the holding reservoirs until the water level enters the feeding tube sleeve activating the vacuum valve, closing the flow of water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention generally relates to maintaining a constant level of fluid in a container via a remote source of fluid.

[0003] 2. Background Description

[0004] Many containers which need to maintain a level of fluid will run below that level if not checked by regular human measurement. This situation applies to many varied environments including Christmas tree stands, house plants, water containers for pets, liquid chemical distribution vats in industrial environments, and in the distribution of fluids and feed to penned and field live-stock. It would be advantageous to provide a low cost apparatus which maintains desired fluid levels in these and other applications without requiring excessive human involvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus tube feeder for pigs with flat dry area for feed and separate built-in cup area for water which maintains fluid in an open tray at a constant level.

[0006] According to the invention, a constant fluid supply apparatus includes a vacuum valve, a reservoir, and a self leveling water pipe, all in fluid communication with one another, and a mechanism for maintaining the fluid in the reservoir at a constant height. As fluid is forced into the open trays via a water feed tube, a vacuum valve with diaphragm is activated when the water level in the tray reaches the bottom of the feeder tube. Once activated by air pressure, the vacuum valves will stop the flow of liquid into the trays. The self leveling water pipe which travels horizontally between water trays allows the open flow of water leveling all the trays equally.

[0007] The current device allows the disbursement of water to a feed tray without the use of float valves and automatically adds water when the level in the tray drops below the predetermined level.

[0008] The current device operates more effectively than the industry standard pressure nipples which require the animal to nudge or suck on the pressure nipple. Many small animals cannot reach the nipple or do not know how to operate the device. Smaller or baby pigs are not capable of learning the technique required for the pressure nipples therefore making the current device more effective in watering of such small animals.

[0009] The present invention is embodied in a new and novel method and apparatus for delivering water to livestock, primarily pigs.

[0010] This invention relates to supplying a constant water supply to livestock through a wet/dry tube feeder with an elevated collecting area for the water, vacuum valve and feeder tube.

[0011] One of the significant aspects of the present invention the use of the vacuum operated valve above the water collecting bin allowing the operator to pre-adjust the water level in the collecting bin. The water is then fed, under constant pressure, until the water level reaches the feeding tub which activates the diaphragm within the vacuum valve temporarily shutting off the water. Once the water drops below the sleeved tub, the valve opens allowing additional water to flow into the bin.

[0012] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0013] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0014] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0015] Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

[0016] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new self leveling wet/dry tube feeder apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the closures mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a self leveling wet/dry tube feeder which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art tool guides, either alone or in any combination thereof.

[0017] It is another object of the present invention to provide a new self leveling wet/dry tube feeder which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

[0018] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new self leveling wet/dry tube feeder which is of a durable and reliable construction.

[0019] An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new self leveling wet/dry tube feeder which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such rope/wire pulling devices economically available to the buying public.

[0020] Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new self leveling wet/dry tube feeder which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

[0021] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new self leveling wet/dry tube feeder which includes a structural frame, vacuum valve with diaphragm, water collecting bin, horizontal leveling tube and sleeved feeding tube.

[0022] These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A wet dry feeding device apparatus, comprising: a vacuum valve control mechanism with diaphragm for releasing fluid; a double walled feeding tube positioned above a reservoir pan for discharging fluid or ceasing the flow of fluid into said pan; a reservoir pan for receiving fluid from said valve; a horizontal leveling tube connecting said reservoir pans wherein the positions of said reservoir pans are relative to one another allowing the said horizontal leveling tube to control an amount of fluid flowing from said pans through said leveling tube, and wherein said pans are positioned relative to one another such that said first fluid level and second fluid level are in the same plane due to static equilibrium established through said direct fluid communication by means of the horizontal leveling tube; a means for adjusting the position of said double walled liquid feeding tube relative to the reservoir pans. 